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Ukraine’s Next Fighter Is Almost Here—First Gripens Expected as Early as January
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Ukraine expects to receive its first Swedish-made Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters in January or February 2027 and is pressing partners to accelerate deliveries as Kyiv expands its combat aviation and air-defense capabilities, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on November 10.
“They are supposed to arrive in January-February, possibly in February. We raised the issue that we need them as quickly as possible. But, let’s put it this way, the process is already underway. We’ll see how the Gripens perform against Shaheds. Yes, we are counting on that as well,” Zelenskyy told journalists.
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The Ukrainian President also stressed that Kyiv needs more F-16 fighters and ammunition. Many of the aircraft currently available to Ukraine require regular maintenance and repairs because of their age, he said.
Sweden announced in May 2026 that it intended to transfer 16 Gripen C/D fighters to Ukraine free of charge, provided plans to acquire newer aircraft move forward. Deliveries were scheduled to begin in 2027.
Ukrainian pilots and ground crews are already undergoing training to operate the Swedish jets.
The Gripen C/D can employ a broad selection of Western air-to-air weapons, including IRIS-T, AMRAAM, and Meteor missiles, giving Ukraine another platform for air defense as well as conventional fighter operations.
Meteor is an advanced radar-guided, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile with the greatest no-escape zone. Gripen E can carry seven of them simultaneously. Read more: https://t.co/9u5Swi81L1 pic.twitter.com/uUypSCgVeK
— Saab (@Saab) November 12, 2024
Zelenskyy’s comments suggest the aircraft could enter Ukrainian service near the very beginning of 2027, with Kyiv already considering their role in intercepting Russian attack drones.
The C/D transfer is only one part of Ukraine’s longer-term Gripen plans. Ukraine and Sweden signed an agreement covering the purchase of 16 newer Gripen E fighters, with initial deliveries expected in 2029.
Kyiv ultimately aims to acquire between 100 and 150 Gripen E/F aircraft.
The broader agreements with Sweden also envision bringing parts of Gripen production, maintenance, and repair to Ukraine, with localization planned to begin in 2033.
Earlier, reports emerged that Ukraine has begun operational combat use of the Swedish-supplied ASC 890 airborne early warning and control aircraft, adding a long-range surveillance capability designed to detect aerial threats and coordinate fighter operations.
The ASC 890, also known as the Saab 340 AEW&C, is designed to provide long-range detection and tracking of aircraft, missiles, and other aerial targets while supporting the coordination of combat aviation.
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